However, Old Madam Guo declined with tactful words. She shook her head with a smile and said, “I know you young ladies are filial, but I’m not that old-fashioned. Go ahead and have your fun. If you want to show filial piety, this isn’t the way to do it!”
Upon hearing this, Fang Xuan quickly said, “Old Madam, I’d still like to stay and watch the opera with you—I enjoy watching opera, and I often accompany my grandmother to watch it!”
Seeing her resolute attitude, Old Madam Guo said nothing more and let Fang Xuan sit beside her.
The opera began with the sound of gongs.
Fang Xuan constantly whispered in Old Madam Yuan’s ear, calling servants and maids, attending to tea and refreshments, serving with great attentiveness, consideration, and diligence.
Everyone noticed the implications and couldn’t help exchanging glances, secretly wondering whether the Fang family was planning to form a marriage alliance with the Cheng family.
Zhou Chujin couldn’t help but sneer coldly and said to Zhou Shaojin, “Do you see that? When the Cheng family marries, it will be to a young lady like the Fang family. You should give up hope as soon as possible.”
Zhou Shaojin knew her sister meant well. Though she didn’t agree with her sister’s words, she didn’t want to make her sister unhappy by contradicting her, so she could only stand to the side with a forced smile.
Zhou Chujin thought of how Zhou Shaojin had looked at Cheng Chi earlier, and felt pity for her younger sister again. She said through gritted teeth, “Shaojin, your sister will find you an even better family to marry into!”
Zhou Shaojin listened with trepidation.
In her previous life, not long after her sister said these words, she had found Lin Shisheng… In this life, although Lin Shisheng was already married, who knew what Wang Shisheng or Zhang Shisheng might appear!
She quickly grabbed her sister’s arm.
Only then did Zhou Chujin’s expression soften slightly.
When they returned home and got out of the sedan chair, they discovered that Second Madam Fang’s sedan chair had followed them over.
Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin looked at each other in confusion.
However, First Madam Liao was all smiles and silently welcomed Second Madam Fang inside to sit.
Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin stepped forward to pay their respects to Second Madam Fang.
Second Madam Fang’s gaze lingered on Zhou Shaojin for a moment before she smiled and said to them, “No need for excessive courtesy.”
First Madam Liao looked behind her and said, “Didn’t Axuan come along?”
“I had her go home first!” Second Madam Fang said with a smile. “She truly served the old madam for an entire afternoon today and is probably exhausted already, so I had her go home first. This kind of matter isn’t something she should know about beforehand anyway.”
First Madam Liao became excited upon hearing this and said, “What did I tell you? I was right, wasn’t I? Whether in appearance or character, our Axuan is absolutely first-rate. Old Madam Guo couldn’t possibly not like her. Look at today—Old Madam Guo kept praising our Axuan with such delight!”
“Indeed!” Second Madam Fang glanced discreetly at the Zhou sisters and said, “If this matter succeeds, I must properly thank you for being such an excellent matchmaker.”
Ordinarily, such matters shouldn’t be discussed in a place like the hanging flower gate, but it just so happened that Zhou Shaojin was present. It would be good for her to hear some hints, lest she think that just because she’s pretty, she could truly surpass Axuan.
Since Zhou Shaojin’s sister had kept her in the capital for an extended stay, it must be for marriage prospects.
After they married in the future, Zhou Shaojin and Fang Xuan would see each other frequently, so it was better to establish things early.
“How could it not succeed?” First Madam Liao also felt this matter shouldn’t be discussed at the hanging flower gate, but she was too happy. She took Second Madam Fang’s hand and said, “Didn’t you hear Madam Yuan say she hopes Axuan can marry over and help her out.”
Everyone knew that Second Madam Wei was bedridden long-term and couldn’t manage household affairs.
The Cheng family’s main branch also had a simple household structure.
Second Madam Fang smiled without speaking.
First Madam Liao took Second Madam Fang’s hand and went to the main quarters.
Zhou Chujin was so frightened her face turned pale. She pulled Zhou Shaojin to her side room, not even going to see Brother Guan, let alone having any mind to change clothes or fix her hair. She dismissed the serving maids and elderly servants before asking Zhou Shaojin in a low voice, “Has Cheng Zichuan… been improper with you in front of outsiders? Or has anyone… seen anything?”
Seeing Cheng Chi about to kiss Zhou Shaojin, she had been too shocked at the time. Thinking back carefully afterward, her younger sister showed no sign of refusal at all, but instead had a flushed face, shy as a flower. She knew then that this wasn’t the first time they had done such things… But since it had already happened, she didn’t want to scold her sister too much, lest she be pushed toward Cheng Chi’s side.
Zhou Shaojin’s face turned bright red.
Every time she was dizzy and disoriented, completely unaware if anyone had come by or left…
Zhou Chujin stomped her feet angrily, her voice like the wind before a storm: “That damned Cheng Chi, does he think our Zhou family has no one to stand up for us? How dare he ruin your reputation…”
This was a serious accusation!
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but say to Zhou Chujin, “Sister, don’t say that. Uncle Chi really does protect me…”
Zhou Chujin shot her a stern look that made Zhou Shaojin swallow the rest of her words.
“He really protects you?” Zhou Chujin said disdainfully. “If he protects you, then why did Second Madam Fang target you with her words repeatedly today? And why did my mother-in-law discuss Fang Xuan and Cheng Chi’s marriage right at the hanging flower gate?” Suddenly, grievance washed over her like water. Tears began to glisten in Zhou Chujin’s eyes. “Shaojin,” she embraced her sister and said, “Shaojin, when brothers unite, their strength can break metal. The same goes for sisters. We’ll both be fine…”
If their mother were still alive, how could they sisters be bullied like this!
Zhou Chujin’s tears were about to fall.
A young maid reported through the curtain, “First Young Miss, Li Changgui from our in-law’s old master’s household has come, saying he brought a letter from the master…”
Oh yes, how could she have forgotten about this!
What she had discussed was so important that Father certainly couldn’t simply send back a letter and be done with it. He would naturally send a capable person to discuss it with her.
Zhou Chujin’s spirits lifted. She quickly instructed the young maid to invite Li Changgui to the study, then hastily tidied up her appearance. She told Zhou Shaojin to stay in her room and not move, then hurried to the study.
Zhou Shaojin sat by the window on the large kang, resting her chin in her hands, thinking about Cheng Chi.
He was going to be an official in Jining. She wondered what the weather was like there, and whether she needed to rush to make some winter clothes.
If she had known, she wouldn’t have been lazy—Uncle Chi’s winter clothes hadn’t even been cut yet.
After he went to Jining, she didn’t know if Old Madam would move back to Xinglin Alley.
Then the Chaoyangmen area would become lonely.
She also wouldn’t be able to easily go to Xinglin Alley to pay her respects to Old Madam anymore.
Zhou Shaojin let out a long sigh.
Men naturally made decisions about external matters, but how wonderful it would be if Uncle Chi could stay in the capital…
As for the Fang family setting their sights on Cheng Chi, Zhou Shaojin didn’t take it to heart.
Even Miss Guo blushed when Cheng Chi was mentioned. It wasn’t surprising at all that others were interested in him.
It all depended on what Uncle Chi would do!
She was lost in these random thoughts when Zhou Chujin burst in like a whirlwind, holding a letter in her hand.
Zhou Shaojin quickly stood up.
Zhou Chujin stared directly at Zhou Shaojin, her expression somewhat complex.
Zhou Shaojin instinctively felt something major had happened.
She couldn’t help but carefully call out “Sister” and ask, “Did something happen?”
Zhou Chujin’s tears suddenly fell. She hugged Zhou Shaojin tightly and sobbed, “You silly girl… you truly have silly person’s silly fortune!”
Zhou Shaojin was utterly confused.
Zhou Chujin had already taken out her handkerchief, wiping her own eyes while handing the letter to Zhou Shaojin: “Look! Look at this. Uncle Chi… has asked Father for your hand in marriage! Father has already agreed. In a few days, the Cheng family will go to Baoding Prefecture to send the betrothal gifts… You, you’re going to marry Uncle Chi!”
This happiness came so suddenly!
Zhou Shaojin felt as if she’d been struck by something, and remained dazed for a long while.
Zhou Chujin was crying and laughing at the same time, speaking somewhat incoherently: “You’ve grown up and learned to judge people… I was wrong to doubt you… I only meant well… You really like Uncle Chi, don’t you? If so, you’ve gotten what you wished for.” She said with a cold snort, “Fortunately Uncle Chi has a sense of responsibility. Otherwise, if he had harmed you, I definitely wouldn’t have let him off… But how should we address each other in the future? He’ll be my brother-in-law, but he’s cousins with Uncle Mian… Although the families split, they’re still one family…” She worried, “It’s good they divided the clan. Otherwise this matter would be truly troublesome! Maternal Grandmother probably knows by now too, right? I wonder if she’ll agree to this match…”
Zhou Shaojin just stood there with tears streaming down her smiling face.
She caressed the few small characters on the letter, thinking in her heart about what Cheng Chi had sacrificed.
If it were her, she probably wouldn’t even have the courage to speak up, let alone personally ask the elders for their consent.
Uncle Chi… truly treats her so well…
The sisters cried and laughed alternately for quite a while before finally calming down.
Zhou Chujin then said with curiosity, “Then why would Second Madam Fang think of marrying Fang Xuan to Uncle Chi?”
Zhou Shaojin spoke up for Cheng Chi: “Perhaps this news hasn’t spread yet? We only just found out ourselves.”
Zhou Chujin nodded with satisfaction. Her eyes shifted, and after a moment’s thought, she said to Zhou Shaojin, “Don’t tell anyone about this! After all, nothing is set in stone yet. Even if it works out, telling others would seem frivolous.”
Zhou Shaojin nodded with a flushed face.
The Jiuru Alley branch had just split from the clan, and if news of her and Uncle Chi’s marriage spread now, it would look somewhat improper. It was better to handle things discreetly.
Zhou Chujin urged her sister to go change: “Second Madam Fang is visiting here, so I still need to go greet her. After you’ve finished dressing, come help me hold Brother Guan—tomorrow I’ll send you back to Yuqian Alley.” Just as she finished speaking, remembering that Cheng Chi was still in the capital and had embraced Zhou Shaojin to kiss her in broad daylight, she changed her mind: “You’d better continue staying with me for a few more days. Wait until Uncle Chi goes to his post, then you can move back to Yuqian Alley.”
With no elders at home, which servant woman would dare stop Cheng Chi? Now that the two had settled on their engagement, Uncle Chi would probably be even less able to restrain himself. If he did something that ruined their marriage prospects, that would be troublesome.
Zhou Shaojin very much wanted to see Cheng Chi.
Moreover, Cheng Chi was about to be posted elsewhere, and she didn’t know when she’d be able to see him.
But since her sister had already spoken, how could she dare disobey?
Zhou Shaojin returned to the rear quarters feeling somewhat dejected.
Nanny Shang greeted her with a beaming smile and said, “Second Young Miss, Fourth Master brought you some donkey meat fire-roasted flatbreads. I’ve already placed them in the kitchen and will make them for your breakfast tomorrow morning.”
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t hide her joy and asked, “When did Uncle Chi come? Where is he now?”
Wasn’t he attending Old Madam Guo’s birthday celebration earlier?